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A teenager who dies during childbirth leaves clues in her journal that could tie her child to a rape involving a violent Russian mob family.

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writer:

Steven Knight (screenplay) (as Steve Knight)
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Popularity
1,218 ( 103)
Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 28 wins & 73 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Josef Altin ... Ekrem
Mina E. Mina Mina E. Mina ... Azim
Aleksandar Mikic Aleksandar Mikic ... Soyka (as Aleksander Mikic)
Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse ... Tatiana (as Sarah Jeanne Labrosse)
Lalita Ahmed ... Customer
Badi Uzzaman ... Chemist
Naomi Watts ... Anna
Doña Croll Doña Croll ... Nurse (as Dona Croll)
Raza Jaffrey ... Doctor Aziz
Sinéad Cusack ... Helen (as Sinead Cusack)
Jerzy Skolimowski ... Stepan
Tatiana Maslany ... Tatiana (voice)
Viggo Mortensen ... Nikolai
Vincent Cassel ... Kirill
Armin Mueller-Stahl ... Semyon
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Storyline

In London, the Russian pregnant teenager Tatiana arrives bleeding in a hospital, and the doctors save her baby only. The Russian descendant midwife Anna Khitrova finds Tatiana's diary written in Russian language in her belongings and decided to find her family to deliver the baby, she brings the diary home and ask her uncle Stepan to translate the document. Stepan refuses, but Anna finds a card of a restaurant owned by the Russian Semyon inside the diary and she visits the old man trying to find a lead to contact Tatiana's family. When she mentions the existence of the diary, Semyon immediately offers to translate the document. However, Stepan translates part of the diary and Anna discovers that Semyon and his sick son Kirill had raped Tatiana when she was fourteen years old and forced her to work as prostitute in a brothel of their own. Further, Semyon is the dangerous boss of the Russian mafia "Vory v Zakone", jeopardizing the safety of Anna and her family. Meanwhile, Semyon's ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Every sin leaves a mark.


Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal and bloody violence, some graphic sexuality, language and nudity | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Naomi Watts spent time at the Whittington Hospital for the role as a midwife. See more »

Goofs

When Anna visits Nikolai in the hospital after the knife fight, he is shown lying in his bed, and he turns his head to look at her, but when the camera shifts back to him, his head hasn't moved and he is still looking straight ahead. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Azim: He says "Christmas." So I say to him,
[in Russian]
Azim: "Should we go shopping?"
[English]
Azim: The kid's 16. He says, "But uncle, it's Christmas."
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Alternate Versions

In India, the theatrical release was cut in spite of receiving an A (adults only) rating. A sex scene, an offensive scene involving the cross and a grave and nudity during the fight sequence were censored. Also removed was the shot of stabbing in the eye. See more »

Connections

Featured in Eastern Promises: Marked for Life (2007) See more »

Soundtracks

By the River Dunay
Traditional
Performed by Tereza Srbova
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User Reviews

 
From Russia with Violence
22 July 2008 | by claudio_carvalhoSee all my reviews

In London, the Russian pregnant teenager Tatiana arrives bleeding in a hospital, and the doctors save her baby only. The Russian descendant midwife Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts) finds Tatiana's diary written in Russian language in her belongings and decided to find her family to deliver the baby, she brings the diary home and ask her uncle Stepan (Jerzy Skolimowski) to translate the document. Stepan refuses, but Anna finds a card of a restaurant owned by the Russian Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl) inside the diary and she visits the old man trying to find a lead to contact Tatiana's family. When she mentions the existence of the diary, Semyon immediately offers to translate the document. However, Stepan translates part of the diary and Anna discovers that Semyon and his sick son Kirill (Vincent Cassel) had raped Tatiana when she was fourteen years old and forced her to work as prostitute in a brothel of their own. Further, Semyon is the dangerous boss of the Russian mafia "Vory v Zakone", jeopardizing the safety of Anna and her family. Meanwhile, Semyon's driver Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen) gets close to Kirill and Semyon, climbing positions in the criminal organization, but he helps Anna, her family and the baby.

After "A History of Violence", David Cronenberg makes another engaging an d violent thriller with the excellent actor Viggo Mortensen. His character recalls the one he performed in the magnificent "American Yakuza" in the beginning of his successful career. After the Italian mobsters, Latin drug dealers and Yakuza, it seems that Russian Mafia and human trafficking are the present mobster organization and business explored by the cinema industry. In addition to the great direction of Cronenberg, the performances of Vincent Cassell and Armin Mueller-Stahl are top-notch and Naomi Watts is efficient as usual. In the end, "Eatern Promises" is a great entertainment. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Senhores do Crime" ("Lords of the Crime")


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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK | Canada | USA

Language:

English | Russian | Turkish | Ukrainian | Urdu

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Eastern Promises See more »

Filming Locations:

England, UK See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

GBP25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$547,092, 16 September 2007

Gross USA:

$17,266,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$56,107,312
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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

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Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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